The official blog of MassHousing

Groundbreakings & Ribbon Cuttings

June 27, 2017

Beacon Communities has completed the final two phases of new housing at Island Creek Village in Duxbury, adding 214 elderly and family units to the existing 106 units built in the 1980s.

MassHousing provided approximately $21 million in financing for the Bodhi, a 94-unit development for residents age 55 or older and the Elm, a 120-unit development that is not age restricted. Of the 214 new units, 143 are affordable to households earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), of which 31 of those units will be for households earning at or below 30% AMI. The median income for Duxbury is $98,100.

The Bodhi

The Agency additionally provided $2 million in financing from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which MassHousing manages of behalf of the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

All of the units at Island Creek Village were built through Chapter 40B. The reconfiguration of the property to allow for the 214 new units received strong support from the town of Duxbury.

The Elm

Both the Bohdi and the Elm received additional financing from the use of state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. The Elm also received $2.4 million in financing from Bank of America.

Both developments were built by Keith Construction. John Keith developed the original 106-unit Island Creek Village East and West, which was also financed by MassHousing in the early 1980s.

January 31, 2017

A recent ribbon-cutting in Union Square was the latest example of Somerville’s continued success in affordable housing production.

The Union Square Apartments, a 35-apartment affordable housing community for lower- and moderate-income households, was developed by the Somerville Community Corporation in the former Boys and Girls Club. SCC bought the property in 2012 and redeveloped the four-story building into 9 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units and three four-bedroom units with first-floor commercial space.

All the apartments are occupied and are restricted to households earning at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI), which in Somerville is $58,000 for a family of four. Eight of the apartments are set aside for households earning at or below 30% AMI. Three of those units are for households with physical disabilities or impairments and two apartments are for formerly homeless families.

SCC received more than 3,000 applications for the 35 units.

"We’re facing a crisis in this region in when it comes to affordable housing," said Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone. "There were 3,400 applications for 35 units. People want to be part of this community and we need to give them that opportunity. It was great to meet people with joy on their face as they moved into their new home."

MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan noted that MassHousing has been involved in the creation or preservation of more than 1,000 units of affordable rental housing in Somerville and helped more than 800 other families purchase a home in the city.

"Somerville is one of those places that realizes how important housing is for the community and its residents," he said. "We were very happy to partner once again with an organization like SCC and in a community like Somerville that places a high importance on creating housing opportunities for lower-income households and working families."

The Union Square Apartments also has a community room, on-site laundry, parking and bicycle parking. The new housing is transit-oriented with the planned expansion of the MBTA’s Green Line and the construction of a new T station.

MassHousing, which manages the AHTF on behalf of DHCD, has been involved in nine AHTF transaction (312 units, $8.1 million in financing) in Somerville. Seven of those transactions involved housing created by SCC for a total of 184 affordable units and $5.6 million in financing.

MassHousing has financed, refinanced or administers 12 rental communities in Somerville involving 1,086 apartments and provided home mortgage loans to 866 homebuyers in the city.

January 12, 2017

Plan calls for including middle income units

The redevelopment of the Boston Housing Authority’s public housing community at Orient Heights in East Boston is underway, and plans call for some of the new units to be classified as middle-income.

Phase one of the redevelopment project will demolish four existing buildings containing 90 housing units, and construct 120 new units of affordable housing for lower-income residents. Additional phases of demolition and redevelopment will follow. The full Orient Heights Redevelopment Project will replace all 331 state-aided public housing units on the site, replacing them with a total of 373 new housing units.

"Every resident in Massachusetts deserves the opportunity to live in housing that is safe, affordable and modern, and the first phase of the redevelopment of Orient Heights is an important step forward for this community’s residents," said Governor Charlie Baker. "I congratulate the City of Boston for embracing efforts to modernize its public housing stock, and look forward to seeing the benefits this transformation will bring to the entire neighborhood."

Orient Heights is the most distressed property in the BHA’s portfolio. Built in 1951, the redevelopment project will create a new community of energy-efficient, code-compliant housing, in a mix of midrise and townhouse buildings. The redevelopment will also create new parking and green space, and open the site to the surrounding neighborhood.

"Over the past 15 years, MassHousing has worked with in partnership with the BHA to revitalize close to 2,000 units of its most physically distressed rental units in the city and transformed housing communities like Maverick Landing, Franklin Hill, Washington Beech, Old Colony, Lower Mills, Heritage and now at Orient Heights, into modern, mixed-income communities for the residents of Boston," said MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan. "We are very pleased to be working with the city of Boston, DHCD, Trinity Financial, and all the public and private partners who are committed to the redevelopment of Orient Heights."

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is supporting the first phase of the Orient Heights redevelopment with $33 million in capital subsidies. The project also received $1 million in subsidies from the City of Boston, as well as Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and rental subsidies from DHCD. The multi-phase plan also allows for future construction of market-rate and mixed-income housing for working families and moderate-income households.

"I am grateful to join with our state and community partners as we celebrate the beginning of a new era for the Orient Heights housing development," said Mayor Marty Walsh. "This public housing facility has been the home of many families for decades, and I am proud that with the support of our state and federal partners we are revitalizing current facilities, while creating new living spaces for future residents."

"Our administration is proud to support a project that removes boundaries between neighbors," said DHCD Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay. "Across the Commonwealth, we are working creatively to update and preserve state-funded housing units, to ensure affordability, and to create communities that are inclusive, vibrant and strengthen their surrounding neighborhoods."

Also last month, HUD announced the awarding of a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Grant for the redevelopment of the BHA’s Whittier Street public housing community in Roxbury. Preservation of Affordable Housing and Madison Park Development Corporation are working with the city to replace 200 units of antiquated housing as well as create 272 new units of moderate-income/workforce housing and market rate housing.

MassHousing expects to commit financing to the Whittier Street redevelopment including financing from the Agency’s Workforce Housing Initiative.

The Bridgeview Center is a new construction rental community for low-income households who make at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI). It is comprised of one, two and three-bedroom units The building also contains a five-bedroom community residence for adults with developmental disabilities which will be operated by TILL.

About 20% of the units will be for extremely low-income residents, formerly homeless individuals or families, clients of the Department of Mental Health and for other individuals with disabilities. The building meets all state and city sustainable building criteria and has achieved a LEED level of Silver.

Ribbon-cutting at Oxford Ping On

The Chinese Economic Development Council (CEDC) recently cut the ribbon for Oxford Ping On, a new construction, 67-unit affordable housing community in Chinatown. MassHousing provided $1 million from the AHTF.

MassHousing provided $815,577 from the AHTF. The project involved the adaptive reuse of the wooden building into 25 units of affordable housing including four one bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, and three three-bedroom units. All of the apartments will be rented to households earning at or below 60% AMI.

"It was Housing Solutions to the rescue," said Taunton Mayor Tom Hoye at a recent ribbon-cutting event for Carpenter's Glen, which like Cranberry Manor, needed a major makeover. "This (renovation) has been a godsend to the city. It's now serving our homeless and veterans and that made this project very worthwhile."

MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan noted that the AHTF funding plays an important part in projects like Carpenter's Glen and Cranberry Manor because it closes gaps in the overall financing so that projects ultimately get completed.

Carpenter's Glen

"The Trust is ‘but for money,"' he said. "But for this financing, the development couldn't go forward. This is a beautiful project and it looks terrific. It's great to be part of this today."

Since its creation in 2001, the AHTF has provided $438.7 million in financing for 507 affordable housing communities involving 25,665 housing units.

"It's important to support what is happening on a local level," said Undersecretary of Housing and Development Chrystal Kornegay. "In addition to furthering affordable housing, we are working to make housing affordable to different levels of incomes and working families who want to continue to live here and work here."

Both are managed by HallKeen Management and the contractor was Essex Construction Corp.Carpenter's Glen is comprised of 32 units in seven townhouse-style buildings and Cranberry Manor is comprised of 24 units in four wood-frame buildings. Housing Solutions, formerly known as South Shore Housing, has owned the properties since the 1990s.

New Carpenter's Glen resident Courtney Morris, who with her mother and two daughters was formerly living in a Fall River homeless shelter, said she was "blessed and honored to be here. Now that I have secured affordable housing I can reach out for all the opportunities in front of me."

September 29, 2016

Developed by the Pine Street Inn in cooperation with the town of Brookline, new supportive housing features 30 enhanced single-room occupancy units

The Pine Street Inn and the Town of Brookline recently cut the ribbon for 51-57 Beal Street, which converted two former lodging house buildings in Brookline into 30 units of supportive enhanced single-occupancy housing just down the street from the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy.

The project involved the gut rehabilitation of the two buildings which now house formerly or at-risk homeless men and women.

Among those speaking at a recent ribbon-cutting event were the late president's grandnephew Joseph P. Kennedy III – who lives in the neighborhood; MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan; officials from the Town of Brookline; Kate Racer from DHCD and others involved in the financing of the project.

"Thank you on behalf of the tenants and all who will call this home," said Rep. Kennedy. "We've created a shift in how we are dealing with homelessness."

Sullivan, also a Brookline resident, commended the Pine Street Inn and the town for seeing the project through.

"It's hard to get this type of project done but it is really important housing," he said. "It's important to prevent homelessness with this type of housing but also to create support services for the residents. Housing opportunities change lives."

There will be on-site case management for the residents with access to support services including counseling, health care and job training. The Pine Street Inn provides permanent supportive housing for 900 men and women in greater Boston.

Resident Joseph Joy said he was humbled to be able to live on Beal Street close to where he grew up and close to his mother who he is easier able to care for.

"I'm very grateful to have this beautiful place to live," he said. "It feels good. I am totally grateful for what I have."

MassHousing has completed six AHTF transactions in Brookline involving $5.1 million in financing for 128 housing units. The Agency has completed three AHTF transactions with the Pine Street Inn involving $2.2 million in financing and 65 housing units.

The one-bedroom apartments are reserved for homeless or at-risk veterans age 55 and over. The building also features support services for the residents, community space, a fitness room and computer room.

Other financing sources included equity from federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the VA, DHCD, CEDAC, LISC and a Home Depot Foundation grant.

February 29, 2016

Governor Charlie Baker recently joined Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay, and officials from the real estate development firm Related Beal to break ground on Parcel 1B, a mixed-use development in downtown Boston that will have all its 239 housing units priced at affordable and middle-income rents.

"The construction of affordable housing is a key driver of economic development, both in Boston and throughout the Commonwealth," said Governor Baker. "This development, which showcases the power of mixed-income housing to transform vacant state-owned land, demonstrates our administration’s ongoing commitment to building stronger communities across the Commonwealth."

"I congratulate Related Beal for reaching this significant milestone and thank them for their commitment to bringing 100 percent affordable and workforce housing to downtown Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "Not only is this project a great achievement for the company, but it is a win for the people of Boston, with 239 units of affordable housing being added to the North Station area. This project serves as a great example of the types of transit-oriented, affordable housing opportunities we are looking to unlock for all of our families across the city."

"The work of improving housing access in Massachusetts happens at the local level," said DHCD Undersecretary Kornegay. "By building local capacity and creating credible housing production incentives, our administration is empowering municipalities to deliver community-driven housing opportunities."

The 239 residential units at Parcel 1B will be income-restricted for individuals, couples and families with qualifying incomes. Additionally, 10 percent of the residential units will be three-bedroom units, providing much-needed affordable family housing in downtown Boston.

Other financing for the project included tax-exempt bond financing from MassDevelopment, federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits administered through DHCD, a local property tax stabilization agreement, and affordable housing funds from the city of Boston.

All 239 apartments will be restricted to households falling within the city’s low- and moderate-income housing guidelines. The largest percentage of units, 72, will be restricted to households making a maximum of 140 percent of the area median income, or roughly $110,000 for a two-person household. Another 40 will be set aside for those making 50 percent of the area median, with the remainder ranging from 30 to 165 percent of the area median.

Designed by Boston-based CBT Architects, the 14-story residential building totaling 484,000 square feet will have ground-floor retail and on-site parking. A 220-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel with 2,500 square feet of meeting space will be operated by Turnberry Associates of Aventura, Florida.

December 18, 2015

Leyden Woods in Greenfield was built in 1973 and looks every bit like a 42-year old apartment community. But that is changing quickly, thanks to a MassHousing-financed rehabilitation using prefabricated components that are transforming the neighborhood almost overnight.

Outdated structures are being demolished and replaced with modular, prefabricated sections that will sit atop existing foundations. MassHousing is providing $53 million in financing for the redevelopment project.

"It's amazing to see how they are delivering and installing this new modular housing that when completed, will provide a brand new home for the families,” said MassHousing Executive Director Tom Gleason, who attended a recent groundbreaking event at the site.

Leyden Woods is owned by an affiliate of The Community Builders (TCB). TCB is using the MassHousing financing to completely replace the 200 apartments on the 44-acre property.

The MassHousing loan provides two distinct benefits. The apartments will be new and the rents will remain at their current affordable levels, thanks to TCB's agreement to extend the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract on 181 of the units for 20 more years.

The general contractor, Delphi Construction, is coordinating with a modular subcontractor to construct 49 new modular buildings off site. The new housing will be more energy efficient and accessible for residents with disabilities.

MassHousing's financing includes a $26.2 million construction and permanent loan, a $24.7 million bridge loan and a $2.1 million second mortgage loan. Other financing sources for the $79 million transaction included state Low Income Housing Tax Credits, funds from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), TCB financing, a MassSave grant and a City of Greenfield infrastructure grant.

November 25, 2015

The Sitkowski School in downtown Webster had stood vacant since 2005. No longer needed as a school, the solid building was nonetheless an historic property and one that helped define the Webster downtown.

Thanks to the non-profit development team at Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), the school once again gleams and much of its original luster has been restored, this time as 66 units of affordable rental housing for seniors.

State and local officials and residents gathered recently to celebrate the grand opening of the restored school. NOAH worked with the town and state agencies for five years to secure financing for the $20 million project to convert the building to housing for residents age 55 and over.

"I am stunned by the transformation here," said MassHousing Executive Director Tom Gleason. "This is an investment we will make any time for a result like this. But when people move in here they make it a home and that's the most important part."

The building had been vacant since 2005. NOAH worked to preserve many of the building's historic features including some of the original oak woodwork, classroom doors and original wood floors.

"There were many sleepless nights and long days leading up to this but we have a new gem in Webster," said Don Bourque, chairman of Webster's Board of Selectmen. "It was not an easy task but worth the time and effort that was put into this facility."

"At the end of the day, it's about the residents," said DHCD Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay. "It's about a nice place for them to live here and enjoy their lives."

Additional financing for the project was provided through the sale of state and federal historic and Low Income Housing Tax Credits and financing from DHCD.

The Sitkowski School developers originally applied for 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from DHCD. As that program is heavily oversubscribed, MassHousing stepped in to help finance the project with the less utilized 4% tax credits.